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December 9, 2009

Sharing "A Differnt Christmas Poem"

QUOTE OF THE DAY:

16 days until Christmas

"All knowledge, the totality of all questions and all answers is contained in the dog." -- Franz Kalka

Hi friends,I wanted wanted to share with all of you a poem, we received at work today. It is part of the Sharing program at the hospital. Of course I cried. We dedicate this post to all our service men and women who help keep us free, just like Peanut & Flash's Dad does.It was from LCDR Jeff Giles, SC, USN......30th Naval Construction Regiment......OIC, Logistics Cell One.....Al Taqqadum, Iraq

A Different Christmas Poem

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,

I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.

My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,

My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.

Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,

Transforming the yard to a winter delight.

The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,

Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.

My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,

Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.

In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,

So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,

But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.

Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know,

Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.

My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,

And I crept to the door just to see who was near.

Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,

A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.

A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,

Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.

Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,

Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.

"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,

"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!

Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,

You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"

For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,

Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts.

To the window that danced with a warm fire's light,

Then he sighed and he said, "Its really all right,

I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night.

It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,

That separates you from the darkest of times.

"No one had to ask or beg or implore me,

I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.

My Gramps died at 'Pearl' on a day in December."

Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas Gram always remembers.

My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam',

And now it is my turn and so, here I am.

"I've not seen my own son in more than a while,

But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile."

Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,

The red, white, and blue . . . an American flag.

I can live through the cold and the being alone,

Away from my family, my house and my home."

I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,

I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.

I can carry the weight of killing another,

Or lay down my life with my sister and brother.

Who stand at the front against any and all,

To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall.

"So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,

Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."

"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,

Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?

It seems all too little for all that you've done,

For being away from your wife and your son."

Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,

"Just tell us you love us, and never forget,

To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,

To stand your own watch, no matter how long.

For when we come home, either standing or dead,

To know you remember we fought and we bled,

Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,

That we mattered to you as you mattered to us.

We are sharing this with all of you just as this soldier asked us to do in this note.

PLEASE, would you do me the kind favor of sending this to as many people as you can? Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is due to our U.S. service men and women for our being able to celebrate these festivities. Let's try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of what we owe. Make people stop and think of our heroes, living and dead, who sacrificed themselves for us.

My sister Lori belongs to a group that does grrreat things for veterans. I will send this poem to HER. Then She will pass it on to all that belong to her group. Thank you for sharing it so we can keep it going.

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwww...Sara...that is a great great great poem!!!Thanks for sharing....We have great admiration for all the people who serve their country!!!!Mommy is crying reading that!!!!You're such a lovely person Sara!!!!WE LOVE YOU A LOT!!!!!!!!Have a wonderful day and give tons of cuddles to Mona!!!!Sweet kisses and licks!!!

PROUDLY WE DO HAIL

Mona + Prissy + Angel Weenie

My name is Mona. I am a wire hair dachshund adopted from DACHSHUND RESCUE OF HOUSTON on 02/19/05. I came to comfort my Mommy when, Samantha, her almost 15 year old first dachshund went to the Rainbow Bridge. Mommy said I saved her life but she saved me first. Samantha quides me now from heaven.
She adopted 4 more dachshunds, my brothers...Jacks, Siskle, Toby and Peanut but due to a medical problem had to give my brothers back to DROH in 2007. They are all happy with their new families and we still get to visit with them.
My bloggie is dedicated to Samantha and my brothers...they are ever in our hearts.